Rotary printing-machine.



R. P. PAYNE.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.30. 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

NNN

RAYMONDPERCIVAL PAYNE, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND.

ROTRY PRINTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed January 80, 1914. Serial No. 815,349.

To all whom t may concern.' l

Be it known that I, RAYMOND PERCIVAL PAYNE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Printing-Machines, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and exact description. n

This invention relates to rotary printing machines and more specifically to rotary olfset lithographie printing machines whlch are adapted to print upon paper, card, fabric, metal or like substances which are fed to the machine either in the form of sheets or from a continuous roll.

Machines have been heretofore constructed which are adapted to print one, two or more colors or designs on one side of a sheet which machines may be converted into the so-called perfecting machines which are adapted to simultaneously print one or more colors or designs on both sides of the sheet. These machines have heretofore comprised either a single design cylinder carrying a plurality of design surfaces adapted to be brought into printing contact with a transfer cylinder having one or more impression surfaces or blankets on Vits periphery for receiving the impression from the design surfaces, or a plurality of design cylinders each of which is adapted to carry a design surface movable into and out of printing contact with a corresponding blanket carried by the transfer cylinder, which transfer cylinder is adapted to be brought into printing contact with an impression cylinder.

The present invention contemplates substituting for the single transfer cylinder, a plurality of transfer cylinders, each of which is adapted to be moved into and out of printing Contact With a corresponding design surface carried by the design cylinder and with the impression cylinder respectively, Whereby a more compact arrangement of cylinders isV obtained, and the transfer cylinders more readily adjusted for elther printing a plurality of colors or designs on one side of the sheet or for perfecting.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, which is my preferred form, but it is to be understood that the particular size and arrangement of cylinders is by Way of exemplification, since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing 4from the spirit of the invention and I hence desire to be limited only by the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

1n the drawings the ligure shown represents a diagrammatic section of a printing machine constructed in accordance with the inyention, the form shown being designed to print two separate colors or designs upon one side of the sheet during a single revolution of the impression cylinder.

The design cylinder a is of the usual form and comprises suitable printing surfaces a and a2 to which the design surfaces or plates e, e are secured by means of the adjustable clamps j.l The design surfaces e and e are inked with the same or different colors by means of the two sets of inking mechanisms g and L, respectively, the rollers of the inking mechanism g being arranged to contact y with the design surface e, while the rollers of the inking mechanism z, are adapted to contact With the design surface e. If desired, a set of damping rollers j may be provided where the design surfaces or plates are of the character which requires damping before they are inked.

Operatively associated with the design cylinder a are transfer cylinders b and c, which cylinders in the form shown in the drawing are one half the diameter of the design cylinder a and are adapted to make two revolutions for each revolution of the design cylinder. Arranged to contact with both the transfer cylinders I) and c, is an impression cylinder d, which similar to the transfer cylinder is one half the diameter of the design cylinder a and makes two revolutions for each revolution of the design cylinder.

Each of the .cylinders b, c and (Z carry the usual rubber covered offset surfaces or blankets b', c and el', while the impression cylinder (l is provided or fitted with a set of grippers /c which are operated in the usual manner and are arranged to receive a sheet from a feed-board l, upon every second revolution of the impression cylinder. The sheets after being printed are released by the grippers and are delivered face uppermost onto a front delivery mechanism which is designated m.

As both the transfer cylinders Z1 and c are arranged tangentially to both the design cylinder a and the impression cylinder d, it is apparent that the cylinders b and c are arranged substantially equi-distantly from loo and on opposite sides of a line passing through the axes of the cylinders a and d, respectively, which will permit each of the transfer cylinders to be readily brought into Contact with the design cylinder or the impression cylinder either alternately or silnultaneously as will now be described.

The transfer cylinder I) receives an inked impression from the design plate or surface e, While the transfer cylinder c receives an inked impression from the design plate e and both the transfer cylinders I) and c are intermittently moved out of contact with the design cylinder by any usual automatic means. In the form illustrated, the means for bodily moving the cylinder I) comprises a rotating member l, which has provided on one end face thereof an internal cam path 2. A bell crank lever 3, which is pivoted to a stationary part of the machine, as at 4, carries at the free end of the downwardly extending arm of the bell crank a roller or pin 5 which is adapted to travel in the cam path 2 so that upon the rotation of the same the bell crank lever will be oscillated. The upper arm of thisI lever is pivotally connected, as at G, to a rod 7 preferably constructed in two sections which are connected together by a turn buckle 8, or other suitable means whereby the length of the rod may be variable. -The upper end of this rod is connected as at 9, to an eccentric 10 which carries the bearing for the shaft of one end of the cylinder b, it being understood that the other end of the shaft is similarly mounted and is provided with an eccentric mounting for the bearing so that upon rotation of the member l the rod 7, through its bell crank connection Will be raised or lowered to carry the cylinder b out of printing contact with design cylinder a. The mechanism for operating the cylinder c is similar and need not be described. The mechanism for moving the transfer cylinder Z) is so arranged z'. e., the caln path is so shaped that it may cause it to either contact with both the design cylinder L and the impression cylinder (l during a single revolution of the impression cylinder and be thereafter moved out of con-` tact with both cylinders in which position it rotates idly or the mechanism may be adjusted to throw the transfer c vlinder alternately into contact with the design cylinder .at and the impression cylinder d, the transfer cylinder being held in each position for one revolution thereof. The movement given to the transfer cylinder c is similar. In the specific embodiment of my invention shown, the cylinder c is moved alternately into contact with the design cylinder (L and then into contact with the impression cylinder (l, it remaining in each of said positions for one single revolution thereof.

Referring now to the operation of the machine which is in part obvious from the description, but will be set out herein in brief. `W hen the machine is employed for printing two different colors or designs on one side of a sheet, the latter is fed by way of the feed- `plate e and in the form shown both the transfer cylinders b and c will be in contact with the sheet carried by the impression cylinder d for a part of the revolution of the impression cylinder (l. The sheet is therefore brought into printing contact with both transfer cylinders Z) and c during one revolution of the impression cylinder l and upon the next revolution of the latter the printed sheet will be released from the grippers and delivered to the delivery mechanism m. During the first revolution of the impression cylinder (Z, the mechanism for moving the transfer cylinder b is arranged so that this cylinder is in contact with both the design and impression cylinders a and d and the transfer cylinder' c is in contact with the impression cylinder Z alone. During the second revolution of the impression cylinder d, the transfer cylinder b is out of contact with both the design and impression cylinders a and CZ, respectively, and performs an idle revolution, and the transfer cylinder c is out of contact with the impression cylinder d and is receiving a further inked impression from the design surface e. Or, in other words, the transfer cylinder b is moved into simultaneous contact with the design cylinder a and the impression cylinder d during one revolution of the impression cylinder, and moved out of contact with both of said cylinders during the next revolution thereof, while the transfer cylinder c is alternately moved into and out of contact with the design cylinder a and impression cylinder (l on two successive revolutions of the impression cylinder.

To print two separate colors or designs,

one on each side of the sheet, z'. e. perfecting the impression cylinder d first makes a revolution without a sheet being fed thereto and during this revolution it receives on its blanket surface d an inked impression from the design plate e through the medium of the transfer cylinder c, while on the next revolution the grippers 7c of the impression cylinder takes a sheet from the feed-board Z and carries it around past the transfer cylinder c, which is now out of contact with the impression cylinder, and into contact with the transfer cylinder b, so that the sheet rcmives a double impression, one from the transfer cylinder Z) on its outer side and the other from the impressiornylinder d on its inner side. The sheet is thus printed on both sides during one revolution of the impression cylinder, and upon the completion of this second revolution, the sheet is released and passed to the delivery m. During the first revolution of the impression cylinder d, the transfer cylinder cis in contact with said cylinder (l and out of contact With the design cylinder' a, While the transfer cylinder b is out of contact with the impression cylinder d and in contact with the design cylinder (l, so as to receive an inked impression from the design plate e. During the second revolution of the impression cylinder d, the positions of the transfercylinders c and b are reversed, the cylinder c being in contact With the design cylinder a and the cylinder I) in contact with the impression cylinder d. It will thus be seen that the transfer cylinders c and b are alternately moved into printing contact with the design cylinder a to receive their inked impression and with the impression cylinder d to impart such inked impression thereto, and that they each perform a single revolution in each of their alternative positions.

W'hile I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the design cylinder of the machine may be provided with one or more printing surfaces which carry one or more designs to be printed in the same or different colors and the transfer cylinders of the machine may each carry either one or more blankets to receive an impression from one of the corresponding Idesign surfaces carried by the design cylinder. Moreover, the diameter of the transfer cylinders may be equal to or a submultiple of that of the design cylinder. The impression cylinder may carry one or more surfaces and may be provided With one or more gripping and releasing mechanisms having grippers to hold the paper to the cylinder while it rotates, until the sheet to be lprinted comes one or more times into printing contact with any or all of the surfaces carried by the transfer cylinders. The diameter of said impression cylinder may be equal to. a multiple, or a sub-multiple of'that of the first design cylinder. 1 Having described my invention I claim:

1. A rotary printing machine having a design cylinder, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder and a plurality of transfer cylinders, said cylinders having suitable printing surfaces on their peripheries, each of said transfer cylinders being located With respect to said impression and design cylinders that -it may be brought into and out of printing contact with the design and impression cylinders during the operation of sign cylinder, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder and a plurality of transfer cylinders, said cylinders having suitableprinting surfaces on their peripheries, each of said transfer cylinders being located with respect to the design and impression cylinders that it may be brought into and out of contact With both of said cylinders, and means for moving one of said transfer cylinders into and out of printing contact With both of said cylinders during the operation of the machine.

4. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder and a plurality of transfer cylinders, said cylinders having suitable printing surfaces on their peripheries each of said transfer cylinders being located with respect to the design and impression cylinders that it may be brought into and out of contact with the design and impression cylinders, respectively, and means for alternately moving` one of said transfer vcylinders into and out of printing contact With said design cylinder and impression cylinder during the operation of the machine.

5. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder, two transfer cylinders, said cylinders having suitable printing surfaces on their peripheries, said cylinders being arranged on opposite sides of the line passing through the axes of the design cylinder and the impression cylinder, each of said transfer cylinders being adapted to be brought into and out of printing contact with the design cylinder and impression cylinders respectively.

6. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to bel printed When fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder, tWo transfer cylinders, said cylinders having suitable printing surfaces on their periphcries, said transfer cylinders being arranged on opposite sides of and spaced substantially equi-distantly from a line passing through the axes of the design cylinder and impression cylinder, respectively, each of said transfer cylinders being adapted to be brought into and out of printing contact with said design cylinder and said impression cylinder, respectively.

7. In a rotary printing machine, a design cvlinder adapted to carry a plurality of design surfaces, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder having a suitable printing surface, two transfer cylinders each adapted to carry at least one blanket surface, said transfer cylinders being arranged on opposite sides of the line passing through the axes of the impression and design cylinders respectively, each of said transfer cylinders being adapted to be brought into and out of printing contact with the impression cylinder, and a design surface carried by the design cylinder.

8. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder adapted to carry a plurality of design surfaces, an impression cylinder carrying grippers adapted to retain a sheet to be printed when fed thereto during the rotation of the cylinder having a suitable printing surface, a plurality of transfer cylinders each adapted to carry at least one blanket surface, said transfer cylinders being arranged on opposite sides of the line passing through the axes of the impression and design cylinders respectively, and means for bringing each of said transfer cylinders into and out of printing contact with the impression cylinder, and a design surface carried by the design cylinder.

9. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder adapted to carry a plurality of design surfaces, an impression cylinder, two transfer cylinders each adapted to carry a blanket surface, the diameter of said impression cylinder and said transfer cylinders being a sub-multiple of that of the design cylinder, each of said transfer cylinders being adapted to be brought into and out of printing contact with the impression cylinder and a design surface carried by the design cylinder, and means for alternately moving one of said transfer cylinders into and out of printing contact with its corresponding design surface and the impression cylinder during two revolutions of the impression cylinder, and means for moving the other of said transfer cylinders into printing contact with its corresponding design surface carried by the design cylinder and the impression cylinder during one revolution of the impression cylinder, and out of contact with both of said cylinders during the other revolution of the impression cylinder.

l0. In a rotary printing machine, a design cylinder adapted to carry a plurality of de sign surfaces, an impression cylinder adapted to carry a blanket surface, two transfer cylinders each adapted to carry a blanket surface, the diameter of said impression cylinder and said transfer cylinders being a sub-multiple of that of the design cylinder, each of said transfer cylinders being adapted to be brought into and out of printing Contact with the impression cylindern and a design surface carried by the design cylinder, and means for alternately moving said transfer cylinders into and out of printing contact with their corresponding design surface carried by the design cylinder and with the impression cylinder on alternate revolutions of the impression c vlinder.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND PERCIVA L PAYNE. vWitnesses DORA H. GIBSON, CHARLES E. TAYLOR. 

